Taoiseach acknowledges rising child poverty crisis in Donegal

The Taoiseach acknowledged the high levels of child poverty in Donegal, which is described by the Society of St Vincent de Paul as an emergency crisis. New research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) warned that child poverty is on the rise, noting that one in ten children is deprived of basic necessities in the region. The SVP urged the government to increase support for those on social welfare and low incomes.

The crisis is linked to the cost of living, including rising prices for fuel, groceries, mortgages, and energy bills. These costs are pushing more families into arrears and putting them at risk of the poverty line. The SVP stated that these issues are causing compromises to children's diets and living standards.